Philippines uses plastic waste as construction materials

A factory in the town of Teresa, in the Philippine province of Rizal, has found a new way to regenerate waste plastics. Plastics are materials that cannot be decomposed by bacteria and take 30-40 years to disintegrate completely.

Previously, Teresa used to collect about 3 tons of waste each week like foam, plastic, and old clothes. And like other places, this town has no other way than to burn. But now, Teresa not only recycles waste plastics but also finds new uses.

The process of making plastic bricks involves crushing the plastic into powder and mixing it with gravel. Teresa has only used this technology for less than a year, and the bricks here are not widely used.

Plastic bricks do not bear the weight, so they are mainly used to build fences, railings, or plant pots. Because they are cheaper than regular bricks, plastic tiles are ordered by local people, partly because they want to support the environmental protection goal of this material.

By new technology, inventors claim to be able to reduce 70% of waste. Success in the town of Teresa is making many other places of the Philippines interested and considering adopting this technology.

State budget